Related Articles

To effectively use Skype to communicate with customers, colleagues and clients, you need your hardware and software to be working in perfect harmony. A broken link between the VoIP program and your sound card has three potential causes: a bug in Skype, an error with your sound card, or a more general problem with your Windows operating system.

Checking for Sound Card Problems

If you're experiencing sound problems in other software applications besides Skype, it's likely that an issue with the sound card is to blame. Shut down your PC, unplug it from the mains and open up your computer case to check the sound card is firmly inserted and correctly connected to the motherboard (consult the documentation supplied with the card for details). As always when working inside your PC, ensure you have grounded yourself or are wearing an anti-static wrist band. In addition, download and install the latest drivers for the sound card from the manufacturer's website in order to improve compatibility with the other hardware and software on your system.

Checking for Skype Problems

It's possible that a bug within Skype is causing the issue, particularly if no other applications have trouble accessing the sound card. Uninstalling and reinstalling Skype using the latest version from the official website can typically fix the majority of issues -- it ensures you're running the latest version of the software (with the most recent bug fixes and compatibility updates) and it replaces any Skype files that may have been erased or corrupted. It also resets the program's registry entries and configuration, re-establishing links between Skype and your hardware that may have been broken somewhere along the way.

Checking for Windows Problems

If neither your sound card nor Skype seem to be the cause of the issue, a more general Windows fault is possibly to blame. The System Restore tool built into Windows can help here (use the search tool on the Start menu or Start screen to find it) -- it rolls back your system to an earlier configuration while leaving your personal documents and data intact. If a recent change to your Windows setup has caused the problem with Skype and your sound card, System Restore should be able to resolve it. In addition, you can unplug any other hardware devices (such as recording equipment) that may be trying to use the sound card at the same time as Skype to see if this fixes the problem.

Additional Checks

Open up the "Tools" menu in Skype, select "Options" and then "Audio Settings." Make sure the program is using the correct input and output devices and that they're configured to be automatically adjusted. From the Sound section of Control Panel, ensure these same devices are set as your default playback and recording hardware. Click the "Properties" button for each device to check the volume levels aren't set to mute. If you're using an external microphone or set of speakers, check these devices are properly powered up and switched on at the right volume levels.

About the Author

An information technology journalist since 2002, David Nield writes about the Web, technology, hardware and software. He is an experienced editor, proofreader and copywriter for online publications such as CNET, TechRadar and Gizmodo. Nield holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and lives in Manchester, England.